The monster's roar shook the entire village.
Houses trembled, dust fell from rooftops, and cracks split the ground in several places. Villagers rushed out of their homes in panic.
"Run! Hurry!"
"Stay away from that thing!"
Screams filled the air. Children were carried in trembling arms, people shoved past one another, desperate to escape the towering black figure standing in the center of the village.
Arou stepped forward, both swords drawn. Nova stood beside him, even though his body was still wounded.
The monster swung its arm.
Arou and Nova leapt in opposite directions, but the shockwave still pushed them back several steps.
"Too strong… and way too big," Nova muttered through gritted teeth.
Arou made his move. He jumped and slashed at the monster's arm—but its skin was as hard as steel. His attack left nothing more than a shallow scratch.
The monster retaliated instantly.
Its massive fist nearly crushed Arou, but Nova pulled him away just in time.
"We can't win like this," Nova said, breathing heavily.
The monster raised its foot, preparing to crush them both at once.
Arou tightened his grip on his swords. "If this keeps up, the village is done for…"
Just as the monster's foot came crashing down—
FWHIP!!
A sharp sound cut through the air.
Something struck the side of the monster's head at incredible speed. Not light, not energy—just a pure high-velocity bullet slicing through the air.
The monster staggered.
FWHIP!!
The second shot pierced straight through its eye.
A faint cracking sound echoed—like metal breaking—before the massive head snapped backward.
The monster swayed… then collapsed, slamming into the ground.
Dust slowly settled around its enormous body. The villagers kept running, while some could only stare from a distance, trembling.
Arou steadied his breathing as he sheathed his red and blue swords. Nova held his injured side, while Shion stood alert, eyes fixed on the sky.
"What was that?" Arou asked. "A monster… or something sent here?"
Shion didn't answer immediately. He glanced down, checking the remaining bullets in his magazine before speaking calmly.
"That was just a test. This new world isn't stable yet. What you saw… is only the beginning."
Nova let out a dry laugh. "A beginning that almost killed us."
Shion shot him a cold glance. "If I were five seconds late, you'd both be flat."
Arou looked up at the sky. The red-black crack had closed, but a thin line remained—like glass forced back together after breaking.
"Shion," Arou said, "do you know what's happening?"
Shion was silent for a moment.
"Arou… this world isn't the same anymore. Something is pressing against reality from the outside. This village will be the first point of impact—but not the last."
Arou clenched his sword. "Zata."
Nova nodded weakly. "Seems like all this chaos started with that name."
Shion exhaled slowly. "If he's really behind this… then that monster was just an 'invitation.'"
A faint cracking sound suddenly came from the sky.
Small—but enough to make Shion immediately aim his rifle upward.
Arou and Nova followed his gaze.
The thin crack… moved.
It spread… widened… slowly, like a growing smile.
Nova swallowed hard. "Oh no…"
Shion tightened his grip. "Second fracture."
Dark light flickered behind the crack.
Arou stepped forward. "If something else comes down… we end it here."
CRACK.
The world seemed to hold its breath.
Something was about to descend.
---
The smoke from the fallen monster slowly faded.
Then—
The air in front of them cracked, like glass being pushed from the other side.
Crack.
The fracture expanded into a circle. A faint light seeped through its edges—then it shattered open, revealing a dark void.
Four female silhouettes stepped out.
First—
Airi.
Her gaze was calm, yet sharp.
Second—
Lumina.
A faint smile on her lips.
Third—
Akari.
A playful smile, as if this were all just a game.
Last—
Shi.
Silent. Calm. No presence—yet overwhelmingly heavy.
Arou stepped forward.
"So this is what Zata meant."
Airi stopped just in front of the pulsating crack.
"Four opposing sides. Four heroes and four enemies. This world will move in balance."
Shion frowned.
"Four heroes? Arou, Nova, me… and the last one is Emi."
He looked at Airi.
"But Emi isn't here. Why mention her now?"
Airi smiled faintly.
"Because she is part of this game… whether she stands here or not."
Nova kept his guard up. "You're not sent by Zata?"
Lumina shook her head gently. "No. We act on our own will."
Akari placed a hand on her hip, leaning slightly forward.
"We're here to confirm something. Not to fight—yet."
Shi slowly raised her scythe.
No threats. No words.
Just a quiet motion that made the air itself grow heavy.
Arou clenched his fist. "Then what's your goal?"
Lumina met his eyes.
"You'll see it soon enough. This new world has only just begun. Many things still need to rise… and fall."
Airi stepped back.
"We'll return when the time comes."
Akari paused before stepping into the crack, her eyes locked on Arou.
"When that time comes… I want to see your true strength."
Shi swung her scythe lightly.
The dimensional crack began to close.
Crack.
And then—it was gone.
Silence fell over the village.
Nova let out a long breath. "Four enemies… just like us. And all of them look dangerous."
Shion stared at the sky. "We need to prepare. Fast."
Arou looked at where the crack had been.
Behind their arrival… he could feel something far greater beginning to move.
The real battle hadn't even started yet.
---
Morning light slipped through the window.
Emi woke up, her head slightly heavy—as if she had just come out of a dream she couldn't understand.
She stepped outside—
And froze.
The village was damaged. Cracked ground, broken walls, and traces of battle still lingered in the air.
In the middle of the road, Arou stood with a tense expression. Nova sat on broken wood, checking his bruised arm. Shion stood further away, calmly adjusting his long sniper rifle.
"Why…" Emi walked closer. "What happened here?"
Arou turned. A small cut marked his cheek. "We were attacked. A giant monster."
"We dealt with it," Nova added quietly. "But the village took damage."
Emi looked around. The destruction felt heavy—like something bigger was coming.
"Why didn't you wake me?"
Shion answered without looking at her. "You weren't stable. We didn't want to take risks."
Emi clenched her fists. "Even so… I'm part of this team."
Arou stepped closer and placed a hand on her shoulder. "You're safe. That's what matters."
Emi fell silent. Her gaze shifted—from Arou… to the broken village.
"If something like this is happening already… what comes next?"
No one answered.
The morning wind passed through them, carrying a silence heavier than words.
Arou gave her a faint smile. "You're safe now. It's over."
Emi studied the battlefield.
"They came… didn't they?" she asked softly.
Shion shook his head. "Not fully. But their presence remains."
He pointed at the trembling marks on the ground.
"Akari and Shi left traces just by moving. Even Airi and Lumina… their energy still lingers."
Nova stared at a broken tree. "It's like… even their shadows are enough to pressure us."
Emi took a deep breath.
"Then we have to be ready. I'm joining this time. I won't just watch."
Arou nodded. "Then it's four of us now. No one lets their guard down."
Shion adjusted his stance, scanning the area. "We study every detail. Every movement matters."
Nova lowered his head, then nodded. "Every trace… every sign… we use it."
Emi looked at the cracked ground.
"They're not just powerful… their very presence is a threat," she murmured.
Arou looked up at the brightening sky.
"This is just the beginning. They may not be here now… but their presence is enough to remind us."
Silence settled over the village once more.
The wind carried dust—and the lingering scent of battle.
A quiet reminder…
That their enemies were already close.